Jan 08, 2024 Planning Commission

[00:00:41]

[INAUDIBLE] WHAT'S IT REDUCED? IT'S REDUCED HOUSING SPACE AND ANY OTHER, SO IT'S INFLATED THE COST OF HOUSING IS NOT AS MUCH AVAILABLE SPACE TO BUILD HOUSING, [INAUDIBLE] REALLY AGGRESSIVELY AT OUR PARKING NUMBER STANDARDS, BUT THE IDEA OF DOING AWAY WITH [INAUDIBLE] IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

YEAH. YEAH.

CERTAINLY REDUCING THEM.

YEAH, YEAH.

WHERE WILL I PUT MY EIGHT CARS? [CHUCKLING] GIVING CREDITS FOR LIKE BIKE PARKING OR CERTAIN OTHER AMENITIES THAT ALLOW THE REDUCTION BECAUSE I THINK. IDEALLY, WE WANT TO BE, WE WANT TO BE MOVING FORWARD IN PROGRESS, BUT WE ALSO, UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT, WE ARE A CAR-BASED SOCIETY AND I THERE'S NOTHING MORE FRUSTRATING THAN GOING TO A BUSINESS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PARK ANYWHERE, OR HAVING PEOPLE FLOW INTO NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PARK AT THE BUSINESS.

IF THAT HAPPENS ANYWHERE. [INAUDIBLE] IS THE EXAMPLE I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING OF THE LAKE LANSING PARK NORTH AREA.

OKAY, AND LAKE LANSING PARK NORTH, NO BIKE RACK.

NO BIKE PARKING. [INAUDIBLE] YOU HAVEN'T LIVED HERE WHEN WALNUT HILLS GOLF COURSE WAS STILL ACTIVE OKAY.

WALNUT HILLS USED TO BE ON THE LPGA TOUR STOP ON THE LPGA TOUR.

YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT, AND IT WAS SO POPULAR.

I LIVED TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE GOLF COURSE.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP POLICE USED TO POLICE WHO COULD GET ONTO OUR BLOCK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET 5 OR 6000 CARS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PARK, THEY JUST PARK IN DRIVEWAYS, AND JUST COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAD TO SHOW AN ID FOR THE COPS TO LET YOU OUT OF YOUR OWN STREET.

THAT'S SO COOL; I WISH WE STILL HAD THAT. [CHUCKLING] NOW WE JUST USE TOW TRUCKS.

[INAUDIBLE] I HAVE BEEN ON THE RIVER TRAIL.

[INAUDIBLE] I'VE BEEN ON IT LIKE ONCE A WEEK FOR THE PAST. THAT'S NICE.

HAVE YOU WALKED THROUGH THE PHASE TWO YET? I LIVE ON PHASE TWO. CAN ACTUALLY WALK THE WHOLE PATH.

YEAH, IT'S REALLY PRETTY.

YEAH. IT'S GOING TO BE NICE.

YOU'RE READY TO GO OUT.

[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

IT IS NOW TIME TO COMMENCE THE JANUARY 8TH, 2024 MEETING OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

WE HAVE A QUORUM SO WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH CONDUCTING BUSINESS.

FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD NOTE THAT THERE ARE 2 OR 3 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE.

DO ANY OF YOU FOLKS WANT TO MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT TO THE BOARD BEFORE WE GET STARTED? ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, THEN, IS APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS DISTRIBUTED.

WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS AGENDA, SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPEAK, THEY SHOULD BE DOING IT NOW.

[3. PUBLIC REMARKS]

OKAY, SIR, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT A COMMENT NOW OR DID YOU WANT TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE MEETING TO DO IT? BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO TIMES WHEN YOU CAN DO IT.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW. [CHUCKLING] WELL YOU'RE THERE.

WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GO AHEAD, SIR? I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

[00:05:01]

YEAH. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, SIR.

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPERTY, THE GOLF RANGE EAST OF POWELL ROAD, AND I SHOULD HAVE THE ADDRESS.

I'M SORRY, I DON'T I'M LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DEVELOPING THAT PROPERTY, AND I WANT IT TO BE ZONED COMMERCIAL.

I BUILT THE PROPERTY SILVERSTONE, BEHIND IT.

I BOUGHT THE BACK HALF OF IT.

I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO DEVELOP THE FRONT HALF.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO A MIXED USE COMMERCIAL PUD AND [INAUDIBLE] IT'S A [INAUDIBLE] RESIDENTIAL BACK TO COMMERCIAL ON THE FRONT.

I KNOW A CAR DEALERSHIP [INAUDIBLE] WAS APPROVED.

I THINK THEY BACKED OUT.

I HEAR RUMORS THAT THEY MIGHT COME BACK IN OR REGARDLESS, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT [INAUDIBLE] BOTH DIRECTIONS TO GO FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO SOME TRANSITION PROPERTY ALONG THE GRAND RIVER, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT OR JUST BRING UP THAT I'M ENCOURAGING [INAUDIBLE] BOTH DIRECTIONS FROM EAST TO WEST AND TO SOUTH. DOG DAYCARE CENTER, WHICH IS QUASI COMMERCIAL AND [INAUDIBLE] RESIDENTIAL AND TO THE WEST, COMMERCIAL, AND I THINK THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE ZONED COMMERCIAL WITH THE IDEA OF DOING A BLEND OF MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONE.

THAT'S THE COMMENT I HAD.

THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION I THINK I CAN ANSWER IF YOU'RE DISCUSSING THAT [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU SIR. MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION? LEAVE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT NUMBER WITH OUR STAFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE 20 MINUTES.

THIS WILL BE SHORT, AND I'LL TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU. SIR THE RECORD SHOULD ALSO REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER SCALES CAME IN.

NOW PRESENT FOR THE MEETING.

ALL RIGHT NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA? SAY AYE.

THERE IS NO OBJECTION.

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

NOW, THE NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS DECEMBER 11TH OF 2023.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS CALL FOR THE VOTE THEN? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 11TH MEETING SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

CAN I INTERRUPT HERE JUST TO RESPOND TO MR. [INAUDIBLE].

THE FUTURE LAND USE PROPOSAL TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DOES INCLUDE REZONING PROPERTY TO COMMERCIAL.

OKAY, I CAN TALK.

I'LL TALK TO HIM MORE SPECIFICALLY AFTER THE MEETING.

SO THE BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON THAT PROBABLY TOMORROW OR THE NEXT MEETING.

OKAY. THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE ZONING AT THIS POINT; IT WILL ALLOW [INAUDIBLE]. YOUR TIMING IS PERFECT.

OKAY. I MUST HAVE BEEN VERY PERSUASIVE.

[CHUCKLING].

OKAY, OKAY.

THERE ARE NO COMMUNICATIONS TO SPEAK OF THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TODAY, SO WE ARE NOW ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

[8.A. REZ #23036 – 5681 Shaw Street, PO, Professional and Office, to RC, Multiple-Family Residential]

THE ORIGINAL STAFF REPORT IS IN HERE THERE WAS A LINK TO ALL THE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL, AND THERE WERE NO CONCERNS BROUGHT UP BY THE PUBLIC OR FURTHER CONCERNS BROUGHT UP BY ANY PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.

YOU MAY RECOMMEND AS YOU WISH.

THERE IS A RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL IN THERE BASED ON YOUR CONVERSATION, AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE? RESOLUTION HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY STAFF THAT APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR PRIOR DISCUSSION.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MOVE TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION?

[00:10:06]

JUST TO REFRESH THE MEMORY.

THIS WAS A PREVIOUSLY A DENTAL OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH IS NOW PROPOSED TO BE RECONDITIONED INTO A FOUR-UNIT APARTMENT.

IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.

IT HAD THE CAPABILITY OF HOLDING FOUR BUSINESSES.

IT HAD BEEN A DENTIST OFFICE IN THE FAR PAST.

IT'S IN A VERY ROUGH SHAPE RIGHT NOW, AND THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSING TO NOT KEEP THE EXISTING BUILDING, REDO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING AND MAKE IT FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

ALL RIGHT.

MR. SCALES.

I'LL JUST READ THE RESOLVE AND MOVE THAT AS A MOTION, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THE CHAIR.

THAT IS, WE'LL ADOPT IT AS PROPOSED BY STAFF BASED ON YOUR MOTION.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? THE CHAIR WILL SECOND THAT.

SO WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

THE RESOLUTION IS PASSED WITH THE LANGUAGE PROPOSED BY STAFF.

THIS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THEIR AGENDA.

OKAY. PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT.

[9.A. 2024 Planning Commission Annual Report]

[CHUCKLING]. THE MASTER PLAN, OF COURSE, WAS THE BIG ITEM ON THE LIST, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF EVERYTHING WE INCLUDE ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE STUFF IS STAFF IS DOING BEHIND THE SCENES, AND WE ALSO INCLUDE THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL APPLICATIONS, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT A PLANNING COMMISSION THING.

IT IS MORE IT IS STAFF WORK.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE BODY OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

IT WAS NICE TO READ ALL THIS COMMENT.

I WAS NICE TO READ THROUGH ALL THAT AND SEE ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'VE.

WE GOT THROUGH THIS YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

IS THIS THE FORM? DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE BOARD? NO.

THERE'S NO STATE BODY OR ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SEND THIS TO.

IT'S JUST FOR YOUR RECORD.

DO WE NEED TO VOTE TO ADOPT IT OR ANYTHING? IF YOU WANT TO DO A VOTE OF SUPPORT, THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE'S NO RESOLUTION OR ANYTHING NECESSARY, LIKE VOTE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, BUT THERE'S NO RESOLUTION NECESSARY FOR THIS JUST SO THAT WE'RE ON THE RECORD.

I WOULD MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AS PREPARED BY STAFF, OUTLINING THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OUR STAFF DURING THIS YEAR, AND THE LAND USE PLANNING AND UTILIZATION FOR THE STATE OR FOR THE TOWNSHIP SUPPORT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? AYE. THERE IS NO OPPOSITION.

THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.

JUST A POINT OF [INAUDIBLE]. I'M SORRY.

I KNOW YOU SAY THERE'S NO RESOLUTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT I THINK THE ACTION WE JUST TOOK WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS DOES BECOME A PUBLIC RECORD, AND WE SHOULD AT LEAST GO ON THE RECORD AS AGREEING WITH WHAT WE'RE SUBMITTING.

CORRECT, AND I DO WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THAT'S THE AGENDA.

YEAH. I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH.

MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

TOWNSHIP BOARD UPDATE.

[10.A. Township Board update.]

OKAY. LIAISON, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY LIAISON REPORTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE. ARE THERE?

[00:15:05]

IT WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF LACK OF PARTICIPATION.

ANYWAY PROJECT REPORT WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU IN THIS PACKET.

WE'LL PROVIDE THAT IN THE NEXT, NEXT PACKET.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE ARE BACK TO PUBLIC REMARKS.

ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE VISITED WITH US HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? NO COMMISSIONER.

COMMENTS. ANYONE WISH TO ADD TO THE MEETING?

[13. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]

IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT'S WHAT'S GOTTEN DONE.

I KNOW ONCE THE MASTER PLAN IS ADOPTED, WE'VE GOT KIND OF A TO DO LIST IN THERE.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE FOR US.

SO MAYBE AT OUR NEXT MEETING WE CAN FOCUS ON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR THE COMING YEAR.

YEAH, WE DO INTEND TO PUT THAT ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA AS A DISCUSSION ITEM TO START THAT CONVERSATION.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT? VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT THEN IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO I MOVE TO ADJOURN.

I SECOND THE MOTION.

[CHUCKLING] I BELIEVE ALL ARE IN FAVOR.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.